This should more appropriately be called "Let's Shake Things Up a Little". We're beginning a series on the parables Jesus gave. A question: Exactly when did He begin speaking in parables and why? What motivated Him to do so?

I was tempted to make the title of this message something to the effect of 'you really don't want to tick Him off', but that was getting too close to sounding irreverent so I didn't go there. As you listen I think you'll get the idea.

This actually happened on a British army expedition to the arctic in 1845. What were they packing besides essential survival gear? A 1200 volume library, fine china, crystal goblets and sterling silverware for each officer with his initials engraved on the handles. The ships became trapped in a vast frozen plain of ice.

The men decided to trek to safety in small groups but none of them survived. Two of the officers pulled a large sled more than 65 miles across the treacherous ice. When rescuers found their bodies, what did they find loaded on the sleds? Silverware.

It's time to take inventory of what we're carrying around in our life. Not just because it's January 1st and time for new year's resolutions. Inventory assessment needs to happen everyday, and your most important supply best not be non-essentials. Let's listen as we dig into Hebrews, Chapter 12.